THIS IS "CHRONICLE." THE CITY OF NEWTON KEEPS A CLOSE WATCH AFTER LOSING THREE YOUNG LIVES TO SUICIDE. DID NEWTON'S HIGH ACHIEVEMENT CULTURE PLAY A ROLE IN THE DEATH? THEY FIND LESSONS EVERY COMMUNITY SHOULD LEARN. IT'S IMPORTANT WE TALK ABOUT SUICIDE NOT BEING AN OPTION. INFORMATION EVERY TEENAGER SHOULD REMEMBER. IT'S OK TO ASK FOR HELP. WORDS EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW. HAVE YOU EVER FELT THAT WAY? IF YOU HAVE, THERE'S NO SHAME IN THAT. TEEN SUICIDE, NEXT. THREE NEWTON TEENAGERS RECENTLY MADE AN IRREVERSIBLE DECISION, AND THE COMMUNITY IS GRIEVING A TRIPLE TRAGEDY. BUT THE CITY IS ALSO WORKING ON A SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM. PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY RESIDENTS ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS ONCE A TABOO SUBJECT. WITH ITS PROXIMITY TO BOSTON, 13 DIVERSE VILLAGES, AND EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT'S NO WONDER NEWTON IS OFTEN CALLED ONE OF THE BEST BASIS TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY. NOW THE CITY IS SHAKEN TO THE CORE I THE DEATH OF THREE TEENAGERS OVER FOUR MONTHS, ALL BY SUICIDE. WHAT LOSS IS HARD BRAKING AND DIFFICULT, AND TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE. HIS DAUGHTER DIED BY SUICIDE. KAREN WAS AN ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR PERSON. SHE ACCEPTED EVERYONE FOR WHO THEY WERE EXCEPT HERSELF. JUST NINE DAYS LATER THE CITY WAS SHOCKED BY THE SUICIDE OF 15-YEAR-OLD KATIE STACK, A SOPHOMORE. A GREAT FRIEND. JUST HAPPY, WHICH WAS IRONIC. IN FEBRUARY THE JUNIOR KILLED HIMSELF. I JUST DON'T BELIEVE HE ACTUALLY DID THAT. THERE IS A BIG PART OF ME THAT DOESN'T BELIEVE IT. EXPERTS SAY THREE TEEN SUICIDES IN ONE ACADEMIC YEAR IS UNIQUE. SUICIDE ATTEMPT IS CONNECTED WITH A HIGHER DEGREE OF IMPULSIVITY. SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY. SHE SAYS IMPULSIVITY LEADS TO WHAT RESEARCHERS CALL A CONTAGION EFFECT OR CLUSTERING. WHEN YOU HAVE EVEN ONE DEATH I SUICIDE IN A CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY, THERE IS A REAL PHENOMENON. IT'S RARE, BUT IT HAPPENS THAT THERE IS AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OTHERS WILL MAKE AN IMPULSIVE SUICIDE ATTEMPT. THIS CAN TRANSLATE TO WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN, WHICH IS CALLED CLUSTERING, A CLUSTERING OF SUICIDE. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT IS CONTAGIOUS. NOT LIKE THE FLU SAYS THE TRAUMA DIRECTOR. WHEN THEY ARE EXPOSED TO A SUICIDE, PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY VULNERABLE, AN IDEA THAT MIGHT NEVER HAVE ENTERED THEIR MIND STARTS TO ENTER THEIR MIND. SOME PEOPLE WORRY IF WE TALK ABOUT SUICIDE IN GENERAL. THERE HAS BEEN RESEARCH THAT IS A MYTH. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING TO FIND STUDENTS WHO MIGHT BE AT RISK. THEN THEY WILL IMPLEMENT TRAINING FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WHAT THESE TRAGEDIES HAVE DONE, THEY HAVE FORCED US TO REALLY INTENSIFY AND FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON KIDS WHO NEED SUPPORT. THERE ARE OTHER KIDS WE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED PEERS COMING FORWARD AND SAYING, I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THIS DUDE IN. THAT'S THE MESSAGE WE ARE TRYING TO GET ACROSS. -- WORRIED ABOUT IN STUDENTS. THAT'S THE MESSAGE WE ARE TRYING TO GET ACROSS. THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS. ONE MOTHER BLAMES THE SCHOOLS FOR CREATING THE CULTURE. IT ISN'T GOING TO JUST BE DUE TO HOMEWORK OR ACADEMIC PRESSURE. WE STARTED DISCUSSIONS AROUND HOW THE STUDENTS HAVE BALANCED LIVES, AND HOW DO WE TAKE HONORS COURSES WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO? IN A CULTURE WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE IT INCREASES RISK. WHEN KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL BUT HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS BUT WHERE THE CHILDREN FEEL CONNECTED TO THEIR PARENTS, TO THE SCHOOL, IT'S ACTUALLY VERY PROTECTIVE AGAINST THE RISK OF SUICIDE. NINE OUT OF 10 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COMMIT SUICIDE SUFFER FROM THE PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS, BUT SOME KIDS ARE GOOD AT HIDING THEIR PAIN, SO WHAT CAN PARENTS DO? MOST IMPORTANTLY, STAY CONNECTED WITH THE CHILD. WHEN PARENTS KNOW WHERE THEIR KIDS ARE, IF THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, AND WHEN A CHILD SAYS THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN GO TO THEIR PARENTS IF THEY ARE IN TROUBLE OR IN DISTRESS, THOSE FACTORS ARE GREAT REALTORS. -- PREDICTORS. LI LIN MCCAIN IS CHANNELING HER GRIEF INTO THE ONLINE CAMPAIGN. SHE HOPES TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO DISCUSS ISSUES LIKE DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. SHE ESPECIALLY HOPES TO ENCOURAGE TEENS TO EMBRACE EACH OTHER AND REALIZE WHAT KAREN NEVER COULD. NOBODY IS PERFECT, AND THAT'S OK. THERE ARE TEARS EVERY DAY, USUALLY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, LAST AT NIGHT. IT STILL FEELS SURREAL. I STILL WISH I COULD WAKE UP FROM THIS BAD DREAM. THERE IS A HUGE EMPTINESS. I FEEL A NEED TO TURN AROUND AND USE IT TO HELP OTHERS. I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THE MCCAIN'S LOSS, AND SHE IS USING IT TO SPEAK OUT. SHE DID HAVE ANOTHER MESSAGE. DON'T LET ACADEMICS TO FIND WHO YOU ARE. YOU ARE MUCH MORE THAN THAT. AIR IS A BALANCE WITH WORK AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS. KEEP CONNECTED. KAREN DOUGLAS'S SISTER AND MOTHER USE A POWERFUL TOOL TO HELP TEENAGERS HIDING THEIR TROUBLE. YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT